Don't let this happen to you
Kim O'Brien
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Life!
A two-car crash in front of Seeger's Union last Friday grabbed the attention of the College campus, but students need not be alarmed, but instead, relieved. The scene was a mock situation created by Muhlenberg College Emergency Medical Services (MCEMS) to educate the campus on the effect of drunk driving, and demonstrate how members would respond if such an incident were to occur.
"Don't Let This Happen to You," an hour-long event sponsored by MCEMS held on Nov. 14 at noon, allowed campus EMS members to practice protocol in the event of a multiple-injuries accident on campus.
The event had two purposes: "First, we wanted to educate the campus on the consequences of drinking and driving," said Joshua Cohen '11, Inspection Control Officer. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater) (www.MADD.org).
The event also gave MCEMS members a chance to gain hands-on practice, and enabled them to work with other emergency response teams in the Allentown area. "This was held to train EMS, and show how we work with outside agencies," Cohen said. "Our EMS would be the first to respond."
Twenty members of MCEMS, including eight posing as accident victims, were involved in the mock-crash scene. Allentown EMS, Allentown Fire Company, Cetronia Ambulance, and Macungie Ambulance also participated in the event. Campus Safety also "was also very integral in setting this up," Cohen said.
"[Director of Campus Safety] Thomas Dougherty was a huge help." MCEMS also received assistance from the College Health Center, and make-up artists from the Theatre department made volunteers involved in the reenactment look convincingly like accident victims.
Cars were donated from the Allentown Fire Department, taken directly from an impound lot. "The cars were straight from accidents," Cohen said, noting that one vehicle had to be disinfected because there was still blood inside it due to previous accident. MCEMS also had planned to have an emergency helicopter land on the campus practice fields, but cancelled this due to inconvienient weather conditions.
"Everything went very smoothly," said Scott Kramer '09, MCEMS Captain. He stressed the importance of medical preparedness. "MCEMS is continually training," Kramer said. MCEMS is a student-run organization and answers approximately 300 calls for medical assistance annually. MCEMS also provides stand-by services for major campus events such as Homecoming, Family Weekend, music concerts and Commencement.
"The thing people don't realize is that we're the first people on-scene. We are the initial contact point," said Kramer. "That's why it's so important that our members stay trained."
"Don't Let This Happen to You," an hour-long event sponsored by MCEMS held on Nov. 14 at noon, allowed campus EMS members to practice protocol in the event of a multiple-injuries accident on campus.
The event had two purposes: "First, we wanted to educate the campus on the consequences of drinking and driving," said Joshua Cohen '11, Inspection Control Officer. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater) (www.MADD.org).
The event also gave MCEMS members a chance to gain hands-on practice, and enabled them to work with other emergency response teams in the Allentown area. "This was held to train EMS, and show how we work with outside agencies," Cohen said. "Our EMS would be the first to respond."
Twenty members of MCEMS, including eight posing as accident victims, were involved in the mock-crash scene. Allentown EMS, Allentown Fire Company, Cetronia Ambulance, and Macungie Ambulance also participated in the event. Campus Safety also "was also very integral in setting this up," Cohen said.
"[Director of Campus Safety] Thomas Dougherty was a huge help." MCEMS also received assistance from the College Health Center, and make-up artists from the Theatre department made volunteers involved in the reenactment look convincingly like accident victims.
Cars were donated from the Allentown Fire Department, taken directly from an impound lot. "The cars were straight from accidents," Cohen said, noting that one vehicle had to be disinfected because there was still blood inside it due to previous accident. MCEMS also had planned to have an emergency helicopter land on the campus practice fields, but cancelled this due to inconvienient weather conditions.
"Everything went very smoothly," said Scott Kramer '09, MCEMS Captain. He stressed the importance of medical preparedness. "MCEMS is continually training," Kramer said. MCEMS is a student-run organization and answers approximately 300 calls for medical assistance annually. MCEMS also provides stand-by services for major campus events such as Homecoming, Family Weekend, music concerts and Commencement.
"The thing people don't realize is that we're the first people on-scene. We are the initial contact point," said Kramer. "That's why it's so important that our members stay trained."